Reward Distribution.

Quickly the authorities took the matter in their hands as they formed a protective cover for the normal audience.

.....

Everyone's eyes were glued to the stage to see the result of clash as they waited impatiently for the dust and the mist formed from the ice to clear.

Even though the shockwave from the attack has sent spectators flying, they were not injured. The barrier had almost resisted most of the attack and what they felt was just an extremely strong wave of air.

"Will Ming'ge be alright? Say, Xiaosan?"

Xiao Wu asked with a worried gaze.

"Don't worry Xiao Wu, nothing will happen to Ming'ge." Tang San reassured Xiao Wu but was also slightly worried in his heart. The attack was really too terrifying.

He might have come out of it unscathed because of his Ice Immunity, but the same can't be said about brother Ming.

That attack was on par with the full powered attack from a Spirit Emperor.

Zhu Zhuqing on the side too was watching intently toward the battle stage without blinking. Her fist was clenched so tightly, she might just Pierce her palm with her long finger nails.

'I hope nothing happens or I'll never forgive you, Tang Ming!'

'BANG!'

Suddenly a thump sounded as the icy mist quickly scattered from the battle stage as it became clear.

On the stage two people can be seen, one standing and the other half kneeling.

Obviously, the standing one was none other than Tang Ming and he was also the one who cleared the mist with the stomp of his spear. His upper clothes had been torn opened as his sculpted physical body was there for everyone to see.

"You lose!"

Tang Ming announced, for a moment everyone and everything was extremely silent before the crowd suddenly erupted in loud roar.

"We've lost."

However unwilling to admit it, Shui Bing-Er still with difficulty spoke these words.

Tang Ming shook his head, saying.

"No, if it would've been any other Academy, you might have won. But it was your misfortune that you're against us."

"It's not only me who could defeat you, if it's not for me being efficient, there are other more than capable of defeating you within Shrek."

Tang Ming said to Shui Bing-Er who has an ugly expression on her face right now.

The referee at this moment looked at both sides before announcing.

"Shrek Academy wins!!"

Tang Ming nodded toward Shui Bing-Er before returning to the rest area.

Zhu Zhuqing who was almost going crazy because of Tang Ming, immediately ran toward him and hugged as her eyes were already a little wet.

"I'm sorry, it was my mistake. Don't cry. You should have some faith in me, there's no one in this whole tornament, who can harm me."

Tang Ming said with a little guilt as Zhu Zhuqing slightly nodded her head as she looked at him in his eyes with tears still visible in the corner of her eyes.

"Ok..but don't always make me worry too."

Zhu Zhuqing said in a low voice as she rested her head on Tang Ming's chest as the latter just smiled and patted her head slowly.

"Uhm..cough..!" Dai Mubai coughed from behind as Tang Ming turned to look at others who were standing there with awkward expression.

"Ming'ge, you almost worried usbto death. I was so worried! Why do you always pretend to be in a difficult spot?Eh...by any chance..do you enjoy it?"

Xiao Wu hopped from Tang San side as she stood in front of Tang Ming with both her hands on her waist, looking angry as she leaned closer to his face.

"Damn you, rabbit! I'm not a masochist, if you're implying anything."

Tang Ming laughed as he flicked Xiao Wu's forehead.

"Ouch!"

Xiao Wu immediately jumped back and hid behind Tang San as she rubbed her forehead, before glaring at Tang Ming with resentment.

"Captain, to be honest with you, i could have defeated that Ice Phoenix easily by myself. If i was there, how could I let these beauties be arrogant. Next time we meet, I'll let them get to know my Phoenix flame. Even though we won, i could have secured victory more flamboyantly."

Ma Hongjun took the opportunity to brag as he puffed his chest and held his head high, as he winked toward Jiang Zhu.

Jiang Zhu just smiled seeing this as her focus was already on someone else.

Dai Mubai raised his hand and swatted Fatty's head.

"You're so capable? Fine, then next time why don't you go up yourself, we'll watch howbtou roast them."

Ma Hongjun rubbed his head, sheepishly saying :

"Hehe, i was just stating fact boss Dai. Don't blame me for not being as incompetent as you."

"Y-You...What did you just say you fatass?!"

Dai Mubai face immediately turned ugly but before he can say anything, Ma Hongjun immediately fled.

"If i don't beat you to a pulp today, my name won't be Dai Mubai anymore!"

Dai Mubai roared as he chased behind Ma Hongjun.

""""""Hahaha!!"""""

Everyone laughed seeing this as the mood immediately became quite light.

.......

Sometime later, in the inner hall of the Great Spirit Arena of Heaven Dou Empire.

Heaven Dou Great Emperor Xue Ye can be seen standing in the middle, while Ning Fengzhi is on his left with Bone Douluo standing beside him and Platinum Bishop Salas and Elder Lin Peng from Immortals Love on the right of Emperor Xue Ye.

At this moment, the award ceremony of the preliminary of the Heaven Dou Empire Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament will be held.

There are also other people present below the VIP stage, they were none other than the top five teams in the qualifiers.

"To have such talented young people like you all, our Heaven Dou Empire truly is greatly blessed."

Emperor Xue Ye said with a loud voice.

"Now i announce that the first place winner of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is Shrek Academy."

Emperor Xue Ye said as he looked at the Shrek Academy, instantly everyone from Shrek Academy bowing slightly and becoming proud as some of them even puffed their chest with pride.

"Second place, Godwind Academy!"

The eyes of Great Xue Ye fell on Godwind Academy. Feng Xiaotian and others put their hands on their chest before bowing slightly.

"Third Place, Thunderclap Academy!"

Everyone from the Thunderclap Academy also bowed slightly but their expression were quite ugly.

"Fourth Place, Skywater Academy!"

Shui Bing-Er, Shui Yue-Er and Xue Wu all bowed their head gracefully, their expression extremely calm.

"And lastly Fifth place, Blazing Academy!"

Huo Wu clenched her fist but also bowed toward Emperor before staring daggers at Shrek Academy's team members, especially Tang brothers.

Everyone applauded each other before Emperor Xue Ye once again continued.

"This time, in addition to the rewards you received in the previous rankings, our Heaven Dou Empire also have some additional reward for the top five teams."

"Each qualified team for the coming tournament are the Empire's future hope."

"I'll confirm the title of viscount to both captains of the team and also the title of baron to the other teammates. The fiefdom will be allocated after you graduate.."

Emperor Xue Ye said as everyone's eyes from the top five teams lit up in enjoyment, only to be interrupted by an extremely annoying voice.

"Your majesty, this seems to be inappropriate."

Platinum Bishop Salas said as he looked toward Emperor Xue Ye while frowning.

"There's no precedent of awarding the title of nobility.. Moreover, the awarded title seems to be too high."

Salas bowed a little as he looked at Emperor Xue Ye with narrowed eyes.

Emperor Xue Ye seemed to be displeased with Salas intervention.

"Platinum Bishop Salas, conferring the title of nobility is an internal matter of the Empire, unrelated to Martial Spirit Hall."

"If there's any team from Heaven Dou Empire can obtain the final victory, everyone's title of nobility in the team will be promoted by one more level. And it's school will also be given the prefix of Imperial, recieving financial support from the Empire."

The more Emperor Xue Ye talked in solemn voice, the uglier Salas expression became.

"Shrek Academy, Godwind Academy, Thunderclap Academy, Skywater Academy and Blazing Academy, you are the top five outstanding schools among the many. I hope that all of you can perform your best in the qualifying rounds. By the time, three of the most outstanding students will obtain the spirit beast furnished by the Empire for your next advance level."

"You can choose any spirit beast of below 30,000 year cultivation."

The moment Xue Ye finished saying, everyone immediately gasped in amazement at how generous the Emperor is being.

But the same cannot be said about Salas, as he was gnashing his teeth in anger.

"Brilliant, your majesty!" Ning Fengzhi said with admiration as everyone also chimed in.

.....

On their way out, Tang San approached Grandmaster as he asked in a low voice.

"Master, Empire and Martial Spirit Hall seems to be in some kind of conflict."

"Um..Martial Spirit Hall and the Empire had always been in conflict for a matter or another, and recently it had even intensified to a level. As you may know more than 70% of the Spirit Masters on the continent belong to Spirit Hall and only the rest left are divided between the two Empires. And this might have threatened them."

"This time Emperor Xue Ye, even promised to furnish a ten thousand year old spirit beast for the next realm advancement. Obviously they want you to choose between the Empire and Martial Spirit Hall."

Grandmaster explained while walking back toward the Shrek Academy.

"Master do you think that his Majesty is showing his protest to Martial Spirit Hall of their conflict has already reached an irreconcilable state?"

Tang San asked curiously.

"If you might ask me, the Spirit Hall and the two Empire are just a thin line away from becoming that. The only reason I can think that they hadn't been on each other's throat yet is because of the new rising power, Immortals Love."

"Whoever gains the support of Immortals Love will definitely have a huge advantage over the other. You might not know but Immortals Love now almost control the whole economy of the Douluo Continent."

Grandmaster said after pondering for a little. Even he was surprised when he get to know about this. The way the Immortals Love had risen to prominence was nothing sort of a miracle.

Tang San who heard this also became shocked. He very well knew how economic power can affect the whole world.

"How can that be?! Hadn't Immortals Love been established just a few years back, how can it has so much control on economy of the whole continent?"

"Even I don't know about this. But as far as I know, Immortals Love had contact with almost every noble families and clans all over the two empires and some of them even had become affiliated to them. How they managed to do this, even I don't know?"

Grandmaster said with a solemn expression. Tang Ming who was listening to their conversation this whole time, simply smiled as he added.

"Hahaha! Xiao San, you don't need to worry about this whole thing right now. First focus on winning the tornament, and for choosing between Empire and Martial Spirit Hall, leave it to for the end. Afterall, as far as I'm concerned, we're already somewhat affiliated to Immortals Love, Dean Flender and Old Zhao being honorary elder of Immortals Love and also me being in the upper echelon of the whole organization."

Grandmaster also nodded after hearing Tang Ming statement.

"Also, according to the knowledge I have Immortals Love is in neutral position and isn't supporting anyone at the moment."

Tang Ming said with a confident manner. Tang San also breathed in relief after hearing this.

Just as they were out of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, suddenly a voice called them from behind especially Tang Ming.

"Tang Ming, stop there!"

Everyone immediately stopped as they looked behind to see the person who called Tang Ming.

"Do you dare to have a battle with me without the martial spirit?"

Lo and behold, it was none other than the new holder of the title 'Arrogant Bitch', Huo Wu. Immediately, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong pouted seeing her as they glared at her dangerously.

"You'll still lose."

Tang Ming replied lightly as he gestured everyone to continue walking as he too turned around to go back.

But before he can even take a few steps, Huo Wu who right now was fuming with anger, rushed toward him and attacked him using a reverse roundhouse kick to his face.

Tang Ming had already seen this outcome. He turned around once again and simply blocked her attack using his hand as held her leg still just a few inches from his face in midair.

Now Huo Wu was in an extremely embarassing position as she had her leg wide open with her one leg still on the ground and the othe one being held by Tang Ming.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun mouth opened in the shape of 'O' as they looked at Tang Ming and tried to take a sneak peek at Huo Wu with pure perverseness.

Tang Ming who was in great mood today because of obtaining the first place in the preliminary tornament just smiled, saying.

"Look, you can come and challenge me anytime you want but atleast become stronger. The way you are now, any of us can easily defeat you in one vs one. Go train harder and then challenge me. Only then I'll take you seriously, right now you just look like a clown to me."

Tang Ming have her a charming smile as he released her from his grip before walking back toward Zhu Zhuqing.

Huo Wu remained at the spot for a few moments, lost in Tang Ming's smile before regaining clarity.

"Y-You..You just wait, I'll train harder and next time, we meet I'll make you take me seriously!"

Huo Wu shouted in a resolute manner looking at Tang Ming's disappearing back before turning around and leaving with Huo Wushuang. There was a slight blush on her face as she walked backwards with her heads down.

......

After returning from the Heave Dou Great Spirit Arena, everyone rested for the whole afternoon.

At evening, everyone once again gathered at the gates of Shrek Academy. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, Jiang Zhu were all present as they talked with each other, waiting for Tang Ming to arrive.

After waiting for a few Tang Ming arrived slowly from the academy.

Ma Hongjun seeing him immediately had a sharp glint in his eyes as he rubbed both of his palm before slowly approaching him and saying in an extremely flattering manner.

"Captain, you truly are a man of your word. You kept your promise of treating us to a hearty meal in Immortals Love hotel. I always knew in my heart that you truly are a person of great value."

"Shut it, fatty. What do you want from me, now. Also stop boot licking me, every time you do this my hands itches for smashing your face."

Tang Ming answered with a disgusted face as he balled his fist. Everytime fatty praised him, he would've this disgusting expression on his greasy face like a fat merchant trying to scam a newbie with a wide smile.

"Ahahaha....you know it has been quite a while since I tastes a bottle of Monkey Sage Wine. But unfortunately I'm way too poor to afford it."

Ma Hongjun immediately retreated as he saw Tang Ming glaring at him with his balled fist. He didn't want to encounter that damn fist again as he had taken too much of his beating till now.

"Poor? What happened to that reward money we got from winning the first place. I reckon everyone atleast got five-six thousand gold coins!"

Tang Ming asked with an inquiring tone.

"Ah..! You see even though this evil fire problem had been almost fixed by the medicine you gave me last time, sometimes it happens to flare up, so...."

"What!? Don't tell me you wasted all that money in just a single day on brothel?"

Dai Mubai exclaimed from the side as he looked at fatty in new light. Even for him, spending thousands of gold coins in a single day in brothel is too much of a luxury.

The girls from the groups immediately had disgusted expression on their face when they heard at what Ma Hongjun had spent all his money on. Xiao Wu even looked like she was going to beat him right now, which immediately scared the hell out of fatty.

"How could that be? Don't say anything if you don't know about it, boss Dai. I'm not like you, i can't spend thousand of gold coins just on a brothel."

Immediately the aggro of the girls shifted from fatty to Dai Mubai who started sweating.

"So what did you spend your whole money on?"

At this time Tang Ming also asked in confusion, if this fatty didn't spend all his money on brothel then where did he expended it?

"You know how people like us who doesn't belong to a noble clan doesn't have any support for our cultivation at the start of our journey and is very hard for us to progress in cultivation unless we are very talented and can only rely on Martial Spirit Hall monthly salary for survival and other things..."

"So I and Oscar decided to donate all my money to the Spirit Hall so that others civilians like us who is talented but can't get enough resources for their cultivation can be helped. And what we didn't expect was they even gave us an emblem representating Spirit Hall as a bouns, which can help us get out of many tight spots and even have some additional bonuses. They even said that they would promote us to a Platinum Bishop as long as we reached Spirit Sage."

Everyone was dumbfounded hearing what fatty and Oscar did with their money. They all stared at Fatty and Oscar for quite a long time before smiling appreciatively.

"Hmph! Finally you are on the right path, fatty. I always believed you would change for good. You too Osca!"

Xiao Wu said as she smiled. The others also congratulated them.

"But why didn't you donate your money to Immortals Love, you know we are somewhat affiliated with them?"

Tang Ming inquired. Ma Hongjun slowly crept forward as checked both sides before he said in a low voice.

"Captain, even though you work in Immortals Love, don't hold it against me. I think Immortals Love is an organisation that targets only rich people and don't sympathizes with poor people, you can see it by how their every products, every establishment costs so much money. A single bottle of Monkey Sage Wine costs ten thousands gold coins. No poor person can ever hope to afford it."

"While Spirit Hall has never asked us anything and had supported us from the moment we become Spirit Master, no matter how meager the help was, it atleast gave poor people somewhat hope of achieving their dreams to become a great Spirit Master someday."

Ma Hongjun added with a little emotion. Everyone also pondered on what fattybsaid as they too become slightly emotional mostly Jing Ling, Jiang Zhu, Huang Yuan.

"I never thought it that way, doesn't this make Spirit Hall quite generous and righteous." Tang San also added as everyone nodded their head.

He knew in his mind that they might have some ulterior motive for this but whatever the reason was, it can't cover their good deeds. Spirit Hall monthly stipend can be seen a ray of hope for people of poor or ordinary background and this is also one of the many reasons why 70% of the Spirit Masters join Spirit Hall as form of gratitude, not that all of them had gratitude in their hearts.

Tang Ming also pondered on what Ma Hongjun said, he actually didn't knew what poor peoples opinion would be of Immortals Love. He accepts that at the starting it was all for earning money, but now....

After a moment, he made a decison. He will implement it the next day but for now.

"Fatty and Oscar, you both actually managed to impress me for once, which I obviously never saw it occuring and I'm really grateful to you. So as a token of appreciation, take this premium card I've promised, you can enjoy all and as much as you want from Immortals Love for free. And today you can eat and drink as much as you want, everything's on my tab."

Tang Ming laughed uproariously as he flicked two purple coloured cards to both of them. Fatty and Oscar immediately caught it as they looked at the card with pure emotion of joy.

"Captain..sniff..sniff.." Oscar even had tears in his eyes as he tried to say something.

"Sniff..sniff .captain..all this time i thought of you as a heartless and foul bastard, who likes to bully us poor people, but you actually and really are a great man and a person of virtue. Thank you."

Ma Hongjun genuinely said with tears of happiness visible in his eyes but Tang Ming's eyes twitched hearing what he said but let it go as these two really did win his heart today.